Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: An improved Hey Jabber Jaw poses threat to Threefiveindia

Belmont | Race 8 | Post Time 5:13 p.m. (ET) | Go to the FREE TimeformUS PPs

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Threefiveindia (#4) is clearly the horse to beat, but his 2-5 morning-line odds seem a bit short given the competition in this field. Don't get me wrong – if this horse runs back to his best effort or improves off his 3-year-old form, he is going to beat this field. However, I do want to give a long, hard look to the runner I believe to be his chief rival.

HEY JABBER JAW (#3) surprised me in race after race throughout the winter, stepping up his game with each start. However, it's his last race that really gives me the feeling that he could be dangerous here. He dueled with Bond Vigilante early through fast fractions, easily put that foe away, and then held sway late while turning back the closers. The runner-up, Gypsum Johnny, returned to win, and Bond Vigilante, who faded to last in that race, came back to just miss in a photo last week. Hey Jabber Jaw earned a strong 119 TimeformUS Speed Figure for that effort, and a repeat of that number would make him a legitimate threat to the favorite here. Furthermore, while there is some other speed in this race, none is as fast as him, and the Pace Projector is predicting a situation that will favor horses on or near the lead.

THE PLAY

Win/Place: 3

Trifecta: 3,4 with 3,4 with ALL

Trifecta: 3,4 with ALL with 3,4